I have a nephew that wants to be a carpenter. . . but

[FoBoT]

does he have an option to do vo-tech his senior year of high school?

 

[slightlyhuman]

i laid carpet for a few years. it's hard work. if you're self-employed or do contracting work then you need to be able to save money(since you will more than likely have to pay for your own insurance, etc.). it's good money if you're a hard and fast worker.

 

[rival]

any const. trade > college by far imo

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: rival
any const. trade > college by far imo

why do you say that? and by what criteria do you say it's better?

 

[d3n]

Have him get into constructing in home theaters and the like. Great money there, more than most degrees will get you in an entry lvl position. He might have to club a couple of the local Amish in the knees if he wants to avoid the cut throat competition.

 

[olds]

Why would you even begin to think about or even entertain the idea of usurping his parents?

 

[rival]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: rival
any const. trade > college by far imo

why do you say that? and by what criteria do you say it's better?

ive been in construction for about 7 years, my school was free, ive had a job for the last 7 years everyday of the week, theres always work someone in this country, you work in diff places all the time, diff climates, with diff people, nothing is static

to each his own however

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: rival

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: rival
any const. trade > college by far imo

why do you say that? and by what criteria do you say it's better?

ive been in construction for about 7 years, my school was free, ive had a job for the last 7 years everyday of the week, theres always work someone in this country, you work in diff places all the time, diff climates, with diff people, nothing is static

to each his own however

And what if you get injured? Decide you want a career change? Slip one past the goalie and need to be around home more? Any of a thousand other things? In one situation you have a degree, in the other you flip burgers.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Suggest that he go to college while working part time as a carpenter. Then he's got his bases covered.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Nothing wrong with wanting to be a carpenter. He can even specialize later on and open his own business. Nothing wrong with this profession and there is potential for making more money than your average college grad that is going to get stuck in a dead end low paying job for most of his/her career.

 

[marulee]

Let him do whatever he wants to do... is the best thing... parent can give a good advice... but only so much...

 

[vi edit]

Absolutely no shame in wanting to go into a skilled craft. As has been said, pay can easily be better than a college grad makes, the work can be more rewarding, and you have more potential to do stuff on the side for extra $$ if you feel inclined to do so.

If he wants to somewhat appease the parents, have him take some accounting/business classes at the local community college. If he ever goes self employed knowing how to run a ledger properly is a great asset.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: rival

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: rival
any const. trade > college by far imo

why do you say that? and by what criteria do you say it's better?

ive been in construction for about 7 years, my school was free, ive had a job for the last 7 years everyday of the week, theres always work someone in this country, you work in diff places all the time, diff climates, with diff people, nothing is static

to each his own however

And what if you get injured? Decide you want a career change? Slip one past the goalie and need to be around home more? Any of a thousand other things? In one situation you have a degree, in the other you flip burgers.

Do you know anything at all about the construction business?

 

[mugs]

What kind of carpenter? Finish carpenter? Framer?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Trade schools are a great idea. Students get hands on experience, history, math and business skills. I thought we were through with the idiotic mindset my generation grew up with (Trade schools are for dummies. Go to college or dig ditches the rest of your life).

How many of us either know someone or were that person ourselves, who attempted to go to college right after HS and failed because of not being ready? Rather than spend an ever increasing amount of Dad's/Mom's/your money at college when you're not sure what you're doing there, go to a trade school and learn how to go to school as well as a trade.

My class in trade school (culinary) started with 50 kids. 12 survived and I graduated top of my class after having flunked the first year of college. I later went back to college graduated and am working on a second degree.

The point is that your nephew should definitely go to a trade school and study carpentry. He can always go to college later.

 

[potato28]

He needs to go to trades school, or go to the union halls and find out if they're taking apprentice's. If he's really skilled he could make more than a lawyer or doctor in a year.

 

[BoomerD]

OP, where does the nephew live? Another variation on carpentry, is Piledriving. Part of the Carpenters union, yet totally different work...mostly...physically VERY demanding, VERY dirty and often greasy, but it's not hard to make $100K/yr as a journeyman pilebutt. They build bridges, docks & wharves primarily, as well as working with the Operating Engineers (crane opeators) to drive the pilings in the ground for most large building construction.

http://www.rtc.edu/Programs/Apprenticeships/Piledrivers/
http://www.calapprenticeship.org/Piledrivers.htm

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: axelfox
Jesus was a carpenter, if that helps.

If not, carpenter ants can lift a couple of hundred times more their own body weight

/thread

...wait...

:laugh:

 

[jdini76]

Architecture.

</thread>

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: jdini76
Architecture.

</thread>

Not necessarily true. There is a construction management school at NC State that prepares people for the management of construction compaines and similar activities. It is separate from the architecture discipline.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

If his parents are willing to pay for college and he has the apptitude for it, he would be crazy not to go. He can learn carpentry anytime, but this might be his only shot at a free ride through college.

I agree that college is not for everyone, but the future earnings potential is much greater with a college degree regardless of what you do.

Carpentry is a rewarding but hard job. I've got a buddy thats in his early forties and owns his own contracting company and makes $80k-$120k a year, and he tells me everytime I see him ("I wished I'd have stayed in school like you, and had a cush desk job")

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I did a bit of both....learned some carpentry skills by working construction and went to college and got a construction management degree. i love the results of what i do, but don't have to kill myself physically to do it.

 

[James3shin]

My pops is a carpenter. Very tough work, but from my experiences helping my dad out, a simple degree in communications or business could go a long way in getting your own company. Tell the nephew, go for it, but don't neglect college. College can only make him more financially stable later on.

 

[BoomerD]

He COULD always go to college, and work as a carpenter during summer break...Ought to be able to make pretty good money working for about 3 months...

 

[gwrober]

I know a guy that runs his own business in the New Braunfels, TX area, and does very well. He essentially builds cabinets and bedroom furniture. BUT, it has the Texas "feel" to it all, and that sells very well here. Very sturdy stuff.

Another example, the wife of one of the guys I work with has built a succesful career out of refurbishing furniture and antiqueing, and takes her work to one of the big trade shows they have every few months in Wimberley and makes out good there.


SO, IMHO, if he's good at it, stick with it and get creative. But definitely find time to get more educated and degreed. If anything, so that he can work until his own carpentry skills can pay the bills....